Credits

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Leadership uses redistricting to protect incumbents they like and punish those they don't. They split cities and towns unnecessarily and do everything they can to make sure no Republican candidate can find a friendly district.

Democracy would be well-served if this task was put in the hands of an independent commission, which is what a constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, would do. That effort, which is backed by some of the state's most credible public advocacy organizations, suffered a setback this week when the Joint Committee on Election Laws voted against it, 9-6.